BW Media Spotlight

Like with the Godzilla franchise, the Kamen Rider franchise is split into “Showa” and “Heisei” eras. The difference, according to the Kamen Rider fan wiki, is that there are two “phasses” (that’s how they spell it) of the Heisei era and now continues into the “Reiwa” era, all named after the current period of Japan according to the new emperor I believe. (Like England, Japan keeps their royal lineage going but they don’t really operate in government affairs. I think. I’m an American. What do I know?) The Showa period riders are usually the victims of that series enemy, like Shocker in the original series. The Heisei and Reiwa era Riders use either magic or technology but they still use a belt to transform and there’s still at least some connection to the enemy, like in tonight’s showcase, Kamen Rider Kuuga.

This series follows Yusuke Godai and friends as they deal with the Grongi tribe, one of the kabillion ancient races that apparently lived in Japan eons ago. (Seriously, there’s more ancient races and communities in Japanese superhero shows than there are heroes to fight them. Followed closely by the few thousand anti-kaiju organization in the Ultraman universe.) The first episode features how Godai got his hands on the Rider Belt for this series, the Arcle, and the arrival of the Grongi (though in typical Japanese hero (and 90s comics) fashion you have to wait for the next episode for enough backstory to know what’s happening). Enjoy.

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